Grant Process

Supporting the future of feline health

Since its inception, Winn Feline Foundation has awarded over $6 million in grants for scientific studies, encouraging veterinarians and researchers to focus attention on the health needs of cats.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has developed the Animal Health Studies Database (AAHSD), encompassing prospective veterinary clinical studies in a variety of species and disciplines. The database: www.avma.org/FindVetStudies

Winn policy on humane use of animals in grant studies

Founded and funded by cat lovers, Winn Feline Foundation only supports research for which humane treatment of animals is assured. Any grant request including the use of animals must first be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the researcher’s institution. Next, Winn’s expert panel of researchers, veterinarians and cat fanciers and advocates complete an extensive review of the justification for the use of animals in the research. Winn periodically reviews our humane guidelines to assure we continue to meet or exceed current standards.
When it is determined live animals must be used by an investigator, only the fewest animals required will be approved, and only if the living conditions are sufficiently described and accepted as well within the definition of humane care. Any discomfort experienced by the animals must be treated.

Winn does not fund projects requiring euthanasia as an endpoint or the induction of disease or injury unless the nature of the disease or condition studied offers such significant improvement in feline health and such means are justified. Winn does not fund studies where the induction of disease is terminal.

At the conclusion of an accepted project, every effort must be made to adopt the cats used into loving homes.

Use of animals in scientific research is a topic taken very seriously by Winn Feline Foundation.

Application Guidelines

Requests for proposals (RFPs) are categorized by the particular grant review process (i.e., Winn Feline Foundation review, Miller Trust review, or a specifically focused grant review). Grant applications should be submitted in response to a specific RFP and must include a completed cover sheet.

Applicant Qualifications

Applicants for Winn funding may be faculty veterinarians, post-doctoral fellows, practicing veterinarians or veterinary students (see below for a new grant opportunity for 2017 and later). Collaborative teams involving investigators from a variety of disciplines and/or institutions — including human health researchers — are encouraged to apply.

Projects are selected by our expert panel of researchers and veterinarians and are based on strict criteria, including: scientific merit, value to feline health, clinical relevance, budgetary soundness, and humane treatment.

New Feline Investigator Grant Award

Winn Feline Foundation has established a New Feline Investigator Grant Award that will begin with the 2017 Winn Grant Review. The award has also been named in memory of Fred Jacobberger, Winn's long-time board member and attorney.

One grant will be awarded in the amount of $15,000 with $13,000 available for research and $2,000 available for travel expenses to present the study results at a major veterinary conference.

Eligibility: Candidates for the award must be in a DVM/PhD program pathway at a college or school of veterinary medicine which currently applies for grants from Winn along with having an interest and working in feline health research. The candidate must be the primary principal investigator on the project and should select the application box for the New Feline Investigator Award on the 2018 Winn Grant cover sheet.

The guidelines related to types of health studies, format and progress reports/publications would apply to this award in the same manner as other Winn grant awards. Winn will also require the acceptance of a written agreement to release funding for this award.

The first recipient selected in fall of 2017 is Elena Contreras, DVM, MS from Colorado State University.

New Feline Investigator Grant Award in Feline Genetics

Winn Feline Foundation has established a New Feline Investigator Grant Award in Feline Genetis that will begin with the 2018 Winn Grant Review. The award is sponsored by Wisdom Health®.

The grant will be awarded in the amount of $15,000 with $13,000 available for research and $2,000 available for travel expenses to present the study results at a major veterinary conference.

Eligibility: Candidates for the award must be in a DVM/PhD program pathway at a college or school of veterinary medicine which currently applies for grants from Winn along with having an interest and working in feline health research. The candidate must be the primary principal investigator on the project and should select the application box for the New Feline Investigator Award on the 2018 Winn Grant cover sheet.

The guidelines related to types of health studies, format and progress reports/publications would apply to this award in the same manner as other Winn grant awards. Winn will also require the acceptance of a written agreement to release funding for this award.

Calendar

2017 Miller Trust Grants

Call for Grants: Currently closed
Review: October 13, 2017
The grant proposal status will be released by late October or early November. Awards will be announced by December 2017.
The next call for grant proposals will go out in April, 2018.

2017 Feline Infectious Peritonitis (Bria Fund) Grants - Special Funding OpportunityCall for Grants: Currently closed
Review: October 13, 2017
The grant proposal status will be released by late October or early November. Awards will be announced by December 2017.
Proposals for FIP research will also be accepted for the 2018 Winn Grant Review Cycle.

2018 Winn Feline Foundation Grants

Call for Grants: Call for Proposals released August 28, 2017
Deadline for proposals: Currently closed.
Review: March 16, 2018
Grant proposal status will be released by mid-May 2018. Awards will be announced by June 2018.

Call for Grants: Call for Proposals released September 26, 2017
Deadline for proposals: Currently closed.
Review: March 16, 2018
Grant proposal status will be released by mid-May 2018. Awards will be announced by June 2018.